Connemara is a wild and beautiful place. We begin our 8-day guided walk here, which is also part of the world-famous Wild Atlantic Way.

The name Connemara is Irish for ‘Inlets of the Sea,’ The scenery you’ll enjoy during this walk includes a stunning coastline and lakes, mountains, white cottages, woolly Highland sheep, fast-flowing streams, and many, many stone walls!

The latter part of our tour takes us to The Burren in County Clare. The Burren, with its unique and magical landscape of exposed and cracked limestone crust, is thought to have inspired J.R.R. Tolkien (author of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings).

The rock formation is exceptional and allows for a unique internal climate resulting in a micro-ecosystem of rare plants, some of which can only be found in Alpine or Mediterranean regions.

We also visit Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands, which lies right on the edge of Europe and holds the highest density of archaeological and cultural artifacts in Ireland.

You will certainly sense the spirits of Celts and early Christian settlers while enjoying life at a slower pace on the island. It’s ideal for a walking vacation in Ireland!

The following itinerary is courtesy of our local guide in Ireland.

Schedule your flight to depart the US and arrive in Shannon, Ireland (SNN) on July 15 by noon. Our local guide will meet the group at the airport with coach bus transportation for a transfer to Connemara, County Galway. Our first hotel stay will be overnight in Leenane.

Our first guided walk is through Connemara National Park, a protected 3,000 hectares of mountains, bog, and woodland. The journey will begin from its splendid visitors’ center.

After a visit to the center, we will walk Diamond Hill, the undisputed highlight of the Park. From the hill, we will have a unique view of Kylemore Abbey with the awe-inspiring landscape of Connemara as its backdrop.

In the afternoon, we will visit the highly photographed Abbey, its Victorian Walled Gardens, and Neo-Gothic church. The estate has an incredibly engaging history that is always enchanting to discover while exploring the romantic architecture.

Overnight in Leenane

Distance: 10 km/6 miles, Ascent: 600 ft

Our walk today follows an old bog road along Lough Fee. Turf is still cut using traditional techniques along the bog, and we will see the various stages of the process.

We will also pass by stone remains of settlements abandoned during the Great Famine. In the afternoon, we walk a section of the beautiful and haunting old famine road along Killary Harbour. The Harbour is Ireland’s only fjord, stretching 20 km inland between the Mweelrea Mountains and Twelve Bens mountain ranges. From our path, we see abandoned potato furrows and penny-walls stretch up the glaciated fjord walls. The area contains some of Ireland’s most awe-inspiring and dramatic scenery.

Overnight in Leenane

Distance: 15 km/9.3 miles, Ascent: 80 m/240 ft

Today's walk begins in Maam, a valley made famous by the making of “The Quiet Man,” starring Maureen O’ Hara and John Wayne.

Our journey takes us into the mountains on one of Ireland’s pilgrimage routes, through Maumeen Pass and to St. Patrick’s Church, situated in the heart of the Maumturk Mountains. Nearby we will visit a Holy Well, marked long before St. Patrick and Christianity; the well is believed to have healing powers and was visited by the Druids and Celts to promote strength and healing. Their belief in an intrinsic power in the water keeps people visiting Holy Wells to this very day.

Our trail then winds down the Inagh Valley with superb views over Roundstone Bog and its surrounding countryside.

Overnight in Leenane

Distance: 15 km/9.3 miles, Ascent: 1020 ft.

Today, we leave Connemara for The Burren in County Clare, taking the coast road along Galway Bay and stopping off in the Gaelic-speaking seaside village of Spiddal, or “A Spidéal.”

Our next stop is the famous Cliffs of Moher, whose sheer rocky face rises directly from the sea to 200 m/600 ft. The Cliffs are one of Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions; when you see them yourself, you will understand why. A walk along the Cliffs provides views of the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, The Twelve Bens, and the Maum Turk Mountains. After we visit the Cliffs, we will go to our final accommodation, situated just outside the lively town of Lisdoonvarna.

Overnight in Lisdoonvarna

Distance: 8 km/5 miles, Ascent: 110 m/330 ft

We begin our morning with a 1-hour ferry ride from the beautiful village of Doolin to the town of Kilronan on Inishmore, the largest of the three Aran Islands.

Inis Mór is a land steeped in myth, legend, and ancient culture. It is famous for its stone forts, which are thought to date from the late Bronze Age (1100 BC) through to the Iron Age (300 BC-500 AD). Our walk takes us to the Black Fort (Dun Duchathair), a solitary fort situated on the cliffs at Cill Éinne on the island's southern side.

Overnight in Lisdoonvarna

Distance: 12 km/7.5 miles, Ascent: 70 m/210 ft

Our final day’s walk leads us over the stark limestone landscape of Black Head in the Burren.

Starting from the village of Fanore, our walk follows an old green road around the shoulder of Black Head through this surreal “lunar landscape” and gently up Gleninagh Mountain for simply gorgeous views. Our walk back loops us around another old green road onto the Burren Way and back to Fanore.

If you are interested in geology, flora, archaeology, or wildlife, this day won’t disappoint as you are immersed in the unique, unfolding layers of limestone.

Overnight in Lisdoonvarna

Distance: 12.5 km/8 miles, Ascent: 310 m/930 ft

After a hearty breakfast, we will depart Lisdoonvarna for Shannon (SNN) Airport, arriving between 11 am - 12 pm.